Penn squash coach earns medal at Pan Am Games

Demer Holleran has assured herself of at least a silver medal in the Pan American Games. The Penn women's squash coach reached the finals of the individual squash tournament in Winnipeg, Canada, after knocking off fellow American Latoshya Khan in the semifinals, 3-2 (10-8, 9-2, 5-9, 0-9, 9-0). The final match, with Holleran taking on Canadian Melanie Jans, began last night at 7 p.m. at the Winnipeg Winter Club. Holleran, who won silver in the individual and team events four years ago in the Pan Am games, had no trouble advancing to the semifinals. She beat both El Salvador's Ana DeMiguel and Mexico's Teresa Osorio without losing a game. In fact, she did not give up a single point against Osorio in her 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 win. The United States team, of which the Penn coach is a part, will start competition today against Canada. Holleran and the rest of the Americans finished second in the 1995 Pan Am Games. Fellow Quaker Cliff Bayer did not fare quite as well in the individual foil competition. The Penn junior fencer lost to eventual second-place finisher Elvis Gregory Gil in the quarterfinals, 15-14, on Tuesday at Maples Complex. Bayer defeated Mexico's Gustav Simont, 15-10, to advance to the quarterfinals after winning two of his five matches in the preliminary round.